A Weekend At Bluestone Holiday Resort: Our Review

Bluestone is a holiday village located in the beautiful countryside of Pembrokeshire in South Wales. It’s a popular holiday destination for families with a variety of accommodations, including lodges, cottages, and apartments.

There’s plenty of on-site activities such as a spa, the Blue Lagoon swimming pool, indoor and outdoor play areas and adventure activities.

Many people visit Bluestone for its natural beauty, and the resort is set within 500 acres of countryside, with access to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

We’d heard lots of good things about Bluestone. Friends had raved about it so we wanted to check it out.

My husband and I visited Bluestone in January with our 2 boys (aged 10 and 7) for a long weekend to see if it lived up to the hype. Read on to discover how our holiday unfolded. We’ve also added some top tips for making the most of your time at Bluestone too!

A Quick and Speedy Arrival

Check in was quick and straight forward which is just what you need after a long 3 hour drive. We arrived quite late on a Friday evening. After driving up to one of the kiosks, a friendly staff member gave us instructions on how to drive to our lodge and some information for our holiday. We were then good to go!

The Lodge Gets A Thumbs Up!

We stayed in the Caldey Lodge. The Caldey Lodge is a semi-detached lodge which sleeps four people, with the living area and bedrooms on the same level.

Image: Bluestone Resorts Limited / Wikimedia

You can park your car outside your lodge when unloading and packing your stuff. After this you park your car in the main arrivals car park for the duration of your stay. My husband dropped the car back while I unpacked with the kids. It was a little way to walk from the main car park back to the lodge my husband didn’t mind the walk.

The lodge was spacious, clean, comfortable and well equipped. If you’re self catering you should find everything you need for cooking. We certainly did! There was a double bedroom for me and my husband and a second room with two single beds for the kids. There was also an cosy sitting area, perfect for watching TV as well as a patio with a picnic bench outdoors for outdoor dining.

I couldn’t fault the lodge at all. It was warm which is ideal for a January stay. We enjoyed spending some time eating and chilling out here.

Getting Around the Site

As you won’t have your car, there is some walking to be done around the site. We love walking and try encourage our kids to walk too – so this was fine for us. Having said this there was quite a bit of walking especially for young kids (as you can see by my youngest in the photo below – he needed a bit of encouragement up the hill!) So if you prefer you can book a  buggy to take you around the site instead!

Many families enjoy the buggy as an extra fun activity on their holiday. You can also hire bikes to get around. We didn’t do this but it’s a favourite mode of transportation for many families at Bluestone.

A dedicated cycling center, offers a range of bikes for hire, including adult and children’s bikes, as well as electric bikes.

For families, Bluestone has dedicated cycling trails that have been designed for children and families. The trails are also suitable for adults who want to take it easy.

For more experienced cyclists, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park offers a great opportunity to explore the beautiful coastal scenery and the rugged terrain. There are many challenging routes available, with steep inclines and technical descents, which will test the skills of even the most experienced riders.

The Blue Lagoon Swimming Pool Is Awesome!

Photo: Bluestone Facebook page

The top draw for our kids at Bluestone was definitely the swimming pool. The Blue Lagoon is an indoor and outdoor swimming complex which is open all year round. It’s free if you are staying on site.

The large indoor swimming pool has 3 different slides. One of them went outside which was so much fun on a cold January day. It must be even better to be able to meander down that slide and sit in the outdoor parts in the middle of summer.

There was also an outdoor lazy river and an outdoor jacuzzi for the over 12s

The wave machine was brilliant. The kids loved it. There are also a couple of dedicated areas for babies and toddlers.

The pool was clean and well maintained while we were there. It wasn’t very crowded but we were staying in the middle of January! Some people have found the swimming pool to be a bit crowded especially during peak season.

Overall we loved the Blue Lagoon swimming complex and found it was ideal our kids.

There’s Lots To Do at The Hive

The Hive is Bluestone’s newest indoor activity centre.
It has an indoor soft play area and bouncy castles which the kids loved. The play zones are free, so it was great for the kids to burn off some energy while we relaxed.

There are also lots of paid for activities in The Hive as well. We tend to try and keep the cost of our holidays down so we didn’t do any of the paid activities in the Hive. However, there is a lot to try out if you want too.

Activities include indoor bowling, the power towers (a 3 sided climbing wall), the power jump and the ‘Adrenaline’, a zip line around the ceiling of the building. The activities looked super fun.

Some of the activities have height restrictions so it’s worth checking these out on the website before you go to avoid disappointment. https://www.bluestonewales.com/resort/hive

Sand and Water Play at The Serendome

The Serondome is a big indoor dome that is designed to feel like the outdoors brought inside.

Image: Celuici / Wikimedia Commons

My youngest son loved the free sand and water areas.

There are a lot of bookable activities that young kids will love including go karts, and a mini sky walk. There’s a sky walk for older kids too. In addition, there’s entertainment and food and drink options.

It’s a good place to spend a couple of hours while you’re there.

What Can You Do For Free at Bluestone?

Bookable activities can be pricey at Bluestone. For example, it costs £25 for 30 minutes of bowling and £15 for a go on Adrenaline in the HIve. However, if you want to experience Bluestone on a budget, there are plenty of free things to do.

The swimming pool is included in the price and you could do this everyday if you wanted. Woodland walks, the winter lights, soft play, outdoor playgrounds and a guided history tour were also free while we were there. If wanted to enjoy a cheaper break, you wouldn’t have to spend much during a weekend.

Find Your Adventure Streak

The resort offers a huge variety of bookable adventure activities. They include archery, axe throwing, laser combat and high ropes,

Off site you can try kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the nearby lakes. Another off site offering is electric mountain bike riding.

Back on site, there are a variety of workshops the kids can participate in.

6 to 10 year olds will love the off road rangers where they can drive around tracks in a mini 4×4.

Add Some Magic To January With the Winter Lights

The Winter Lights is an annual event that takes place during the winter months.

They have previously been part of a woodland walk but this year were based around the lake. The lights are a great way to add some magic to January and were one of the highlights of our trip.

Relax in the Spa

I didn’t visit the Spa during the visit so I can’t give it a personal review. However, if you fancy a trip to the spa, it offers a variety of spa treatments and services, including massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. There are also a range of facilities including a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, ice pod and sea salt cave.

The spa has excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. Many people have found it to be a highlight of their stay at Bluestone with many commenting on the professional and attentive staff.

Where To Eat Out

As we were on a budget, we didn’t eat out but if you love eating out, Bluestone has a good variety of restaurants which include:

The Farmhouse Grill : The Farmhouse Grill has a mouth watering menu featuring a range of grilled meats and fish, as well as vegetarian options, and the restaurant is known for its selection of steaks.

The Knights Tafarn: This restaurant serves traditional pub food and a wide range of beers, ciders, and wines.

The Camp Smokey: A BBQ style restaurant that serves burgers, hotdogs and ribs as well as a selection of beers, ciders and wines.

The Oaktree restaurant – A family friendly restaurant with Italian food mixed with Welsh. The Oaktree restaurant is popular so definitely book this one in advance.

Tips on Food Shopping

There is a grocery shop on site. However, it is expensive! It’s good to pick up the odd item, but  I wouldn’t plan to do all your food shopping there.

A great way to get food shopping for Bluestone is click and collect. There is a Tesco 15 minutes drive away. Order your shopping for click and collect, drive and pick it up on the way to the Bluestone so you can unload it at the same time as your luggage.

Bluestone also offers dining in packages. You can order food to be delivered to your lodge and prepare it when it arrives.

The Staff Are Very Friendly

If you read the reviews for Bluestone you’ll notice many people compliment the staff for being very helpful and friendly. This was our experience too!

At Bluestone, the staff are known as the Bluestone family. The business is known for putting staff first. In 2017 Bluestone became the first UK leisure company to make its staff shareholders giving them 30% of the company. Many staff have an investment in the company and they are treated well so it is no wonder that they are happy and put customers first too.

Discover Pembrokeshire’s Beautiful Beaches

The nearby beaches are some of the best Wales and the UK has to offer. Some of the closest beaches to the resort include:

Tenby: A popular seaside town which is located around 8 miles from the resort. It features a long stretch of sandy beach, with clear waters and a variety of water sports available. There are also a range of shops, cafes and restaurants along the seafront. Tenby is a 20 minute drive away from Bluestone and well worth a visit!

The boys on the old Canon Overlooking Tenby

Saundersfoot: This charming village is located around 7 miles from the resort. Saundersfoot beach is a long, wide, sandy beach that is perfect for families. There are a variety of water sports available, including kayaking and paddle-boarding.

Barafundle Bay: Discover a stunning beach located around 12 miles from the resort. It’s a National Trust beach, known for its crystal clear waters, and golden sands. It’s a quieter beach and it’s a great spot for swimming and sunbathing.

Newgale Beach: Another long stretch of sandy beach located around 15 miles from the resort. It’s popular for its surf and it’s a great spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. There’s also a large car park, toilets, and a cafe nearby.

Freshwater West: This is a beautiful, rugged beach located around 18 miles from the resort. It’s a popular spot for surfing and bodyboarding, and it’s also a great spot for walking, with a wide range of coastal paths and trails.

We visited both Tenby and Saudersfoot. In January the beaches are obviously without the sunbathers but this gives you a chance to really appreciate their natural beauty. The kids loved walking up the beach. In Tenby the January day we visited was mild enough to take off their shoes and paddle but if you do visit in Winter take some wellies and kids can enjoy splashing about.

Things to do near Bluestone.

Some of the things to do near the resort include:

Visit the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park: This beautiful park is home to a range of scenic coastal paths, hiking trails and beaches, making it a great destination for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Castles and Heritage sites: Pembrokeshire is home to a number of castles and heritage sites, such as Pembroke Castle, Carew Castle, and St David’s Cathedral. These historic sites offer a glimpse into the region’s rich history and culture.
Outdoor activities: The area around Bluestone offers a wide range of outdoor activities, such as surfing, coasteering, kayaking, and paddle-boarding.

Wildlife and bird watching: Pembrokeshire is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and rare birds, making it a great destination for wildlife and bird watching.

Shopping and dining: Pembrokeshire is home to a number of charming towns and villages, such as Tenby and Saundersfoot, which offer a range of shops, cafes and restaurants for visitors to enjoy

Adventure parks and activities: There are a number of adventure parks and activities near Bluestone, such as Oakwood theme park and Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, which are great for families.

Beach activities: The area around Bluestone is home to a number of beautiful beaches, such as Tenby, Saundersfoot

Which is Better Bluestone or Centre Parks?

Bluestone is a different experience to Centre parcs. They are both holiday parks which cater for families but they are so different it doesn’t feel quite right to compare them. However, I know many people do so I have written an article comparing both parks so you can decide which is best for your holiday.

Bluestone is Great!

Overall we loved Bluestone as a family weekend break. Our January visit was the highlight of our winter. I probably enjoyed it more than Christmas! However next time I’d like to go in the summer and maybe hire some bikes to explore the family cycles trails the resort has to offer.

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